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Federal wetlands law expert talked with students about protecting biodiversity through the law

Venable partner Peggy Strand, an expert in federal wetlands and environmental law, talked with Stetson Law students about challenges to protecting biodiversity through the law at the Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture on Jan. 17.

Peggy Strand spoke at Stetson Law on Jan. 17.

Strand explained that one challenge to protecting biodiversity through the law is the lack of consensus among lawmakers on environmental issues.

“If you can’t get consensus on climate change with a polar bear as a poster child, you are not going to get consensus on biodiversity with plankton as the poster child,” Strand explained.

Strand said that there have been several success stories for endangered species through legal protections. However, endangered species are not healthy species, and protecting biodiversity requires maintaining healthy organisms. She said that a better legal system for biodiversity would include a more balanced legal approach.

“I am very hopeful for the future,” Strand said to the crowd of law students listening to her talk. “These are the kinds of issues that you are going to deal with in your practice.”

Stetson’s Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series brings leading experts to campus for public lectures on a range of environmental topics directly impacting the state. Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy co-sponsored the lecture.